Winemiller's Eartheater Care Guide
Geophagus winemilleri is a blackwater eartheater from the Rio Negro and Casiquiare system. A relatively peaceful sand-sifter for soft, acidic water.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Geophagus winemilleri is an eartheater cichlid described by López-Fernández and Taphorn in 2004 and named after the fish ecologist Kirk O. Winemiller, who directs an aquatic ecology laboratory at Texas A&M University. It comes from southern Venezuela and probably adjacent northern Brazil, in the lower Casiquiare drainage and the headwaters of the Rio Negro. Like its relatives it is a substrate-sifting fish and a member of the wider Geophagus surinamensis species group. FishBase reports a maximum standard length of about 20 cm, making it a medium-sized cichlid.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Geophagus
- Scientific name: Geophagus winemilleri
- Described: López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004
Habitat
The species inhabits acidic blackwater environments with low mineral content, over soft sandy or muddy substrates along marginal zones of the upper Rio Negro, Río Siapa and the Casiquiare system. These are warm, soft and mineral-poor waters.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L (about 92 gal)
- Temperature: 26-30 °C (79-86 °F)
- pH: 5.0-6.5
- GH: 1-5 °dGH
- Group size: keep at least 5 individuals
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
Geophagus winemilleri is benthophagous and feeds by sifting substrate. Its natural diet comprises small invertebrates, plant seeds, organic detritus and sediment. Aquarium specimens take fine-grade prepared foods plus small live or frozen bloodworm, Tubifex, Artemia and mosquito larvae, ideally divided into several portions across the day.
Compatibility
Outside of breeding the species is described as surprisingly peaceful, but it needs to be kept in a group of at least five to eight individuals, which establishes a dominance hierarchy. In smaller numbers weaker fish may be subjected to excessive aggression. Tiny tankmates and aggressive cichlids are not suitable companions.
Breeding
It is a substrate-spawning, larvophilous biparental mouthbrooder. The eggs are laid on a surface and the parents take the developing larvae into their mouths; both parents or the female alone may carry out the brooding.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020). FishBase rates the species as having high resilience and low vulnerability to fishing pressure.
Geophagus winemilleri Breeding Guide
Overview
Geophagus winemilleri is an eartheater of southern Venezuela and probably northern Brazil, with confirmed collections from the upper Rio Negro, Rio Siapa and the Casiquiare system, according to Seriously Fish. It is described as a substrate-spawning, larvophilous, biparental mouthbrooder that has been bred in aquaria, reaching about 180-200 mm. It is best kept in a group.
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, the sexes appear identical except when spawning, at which point the ovipositor of the female is visible. As with related eartheaters, raising a group of juveniles allows pairs to form naturally.
Conditioning
An omnivorous sand-sifter, the species is conditioned on a varied diet. A group in a spacious, sandy tank with stable, warm, soft water promotes pair formation; once a pair bonds it will select and clean a spawning site.
Breeding Setup
Provide a flat rock or piece of driftwood over sand as the spawning surface. Seriously Fish reports breeding-suitable conditions of 26-30 C and pH 4.0-7.0, in line with the soft, acidic blackwater of the Rio Negro region.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Seriously Fish describes courtship involving fin flaring, circling, gaping and head-jerking. The pair cleans a spawning site, and the female lays one or more rows of eggs before the male fertilises them, repeated over several hours. Warm, soft water and a settled pair are the practical triggers.
Egg & Fry Care
Being larvophilous, the parents leave the eggs on the substrate until they hatch. Seriously Fish reports that after about 72 hours the fry are taken into the mouth of the female, though both parents may be involved from the start. Once free-swimming, care is shared, and parental contribution varies between individual males.
Common Challenges
Because the sexes are identical outside spawning, group rearing is the only reliable way to obtain a pair. Maintaining soft, warm water and providing enough space for the holding parent are the main practical considerations.